“Oil Painting Workshop” will be held on Thursdays, Sept. 7-Dec. 14 from 1-4 p.m. The cost is $174.

“Oil Painting with Jean: Beyond the Basics” continues beyond oil painting basics and is geared toward more experienced artists. Students should bring the same supplies listed for the Oil Painting Basics course description and any size canvas to paint. Students should also bring several photos for choosing a subject.

“Oil Painting with Jean: Beyond the Basics” will be held Thursdays, Sept. 7-Dec. 14 from 9-Noon. The cost is $174.

“Ballet Based Movement for Body & Mind” will teach students how to create beautiful movements to fine music of different styles and eras while also improving balance. Instructor Rosalind Wirsing has been teaching ballet to all ages and levels of ability for many years. Earlier in her career, she was a professional classical ballet dancer. No prior ballet experience required. All levels welcome.

“Ballet Based Movement for Body & Mind” will be held on Tuesdays, Sept. 5-Nov. 21 from 1:30-3 p.m. There is also an “Introductory Class” on Tuesdays, Sept. 5-Nov. 21 from 3-4 p.m. The cost for both is $75.

“Get Moving! Explore Latin Dancing” teaches students, tango, Cha-Cha, Rumba and more in only six short weeks. Professional dance instructor, Debby Hasson, teaches students the moves to wow the audience on any dance floor. Learn the simple way to dance the Swing, Tango, Foxtrot, Cha-Cha, Waltz, and Rumba. With over 30 years experience teaching dancers of all levels, Debby will introduce students to the most popular social dances of today. Hasson is nationally certified with many championships to her credit. For more information, visit carolinadanceworks.com. Dancing partner not required.

“Get Moving! Explore Latin Dancing” will be held on Mondays, Sept. 11-Oct. 16 from 6-7 p.m. The cost is $65 per student.

“Intermediate Concert Band” is a new class perfect for those who played in a school band many years or decades ago and wish to play again. Students will have the opportunity to let an expert instructor refresh their musical abilities and play in a concert band again. Upon successful course completion, students will be able to join the New Horizons Band in the Pines. Students must provide their own instrument.

“Intermediate Concert Band” will meet every other Tuesday, Sept. 12-Dec. 19 from 2-3 p.m. The cost is $105 plus the cost of text that will be available in class.

“Piano Levels 1-3,” is where students learn to play music involving C, G and middle C positions, primary triads, sharps and flats, basic rhythm patterns and how to read intervals.

“Level 1” will be held Thursdays, Sept. 14-Dec. 7 from 3-4 p.m.

“Level 2” is offered to those who have taken Piano Beginning Level 1 or prior experience. It will be held Thursdays Sept. 14-Dec. 7 from 2-3 p.m.

“Level 3” is offered to those who have taken Piano Intermediate Level 2 or prior experience. It will be held Thursdays, Sept. 14-Dec. 7 from 1-2 p.m.

The cost for each level is $59 plus the cost of the text.

“Medicare 101” is an informative seminar for students nearing the age of age 65 or older. Part A, Part B, supplemental insurance—it’s all so complicated! Join NC Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) representative, Gary Knutson, as he demystifies Medicare and provides accurate and unbiased information that could save you thousands of dollars in premiums and penalties. Q & A time is included. Light refreshments will be provided by St. Joseph of the Pines.

“Medicare 101” will be held Tuesday, Sept. 19 from 2:30-4 p.m. The seminar is free but registration is required.

“Finance for Soldiers and Veterans” is a new four-week course, where students will survey a series of financial topics pertaining to both active duty and retired military or government service personnel. Topics include pension planning and budget forecasting, TSP overview, Life Insurance & SGLI conversion, and more. “Finance for Soldiers and Veterans” will be held Sept. 21-Oct. 12 on Thursdays from 6:30-8 p.m. The cost is $20.

“Mutual Fund Investing” is designed to better equip retirees in mutual fund investing. The course covers various types of mutual funds, expenses, evaluating and balancing funds, mutual funds inside a portfolio, load vs. no load, funds within annuities and using strategies.

“Mutual Fund Investing” will be held Sept. 5-19 on Tuesdays from 3-5 p.m. The cost is $20.

“Sign Language Intermediate” introduces additional vocabulary allowing students to become more comfortable communicating with American Sign Language in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community. Learn more about facial expression and non-verbal communication markers. Sign Language for Beginners or prior experience is required to take this class.

“Sign Language Intermediate” will be held on Tuesdays, Sept. 12-Nov. 7 from 6-8 p.m. The cost is $65.

Get ready to book a round-trip ticket to globe hop from Russia to Germany to Arthur Fiedler’s Boston in the new class, “All Access Season Preview.” On this journey, students will dive into the music of Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Beethoven and more. Don’t miss this sneak peek of another exciting season of music by the North Carolina Symphony – no passport required!

“All Access Season Preview.” Will be held Tuesdays, Sept. 26 from 10:30-Noon. This is a free class but registration is required.

“Fall Book Club” will meet on the third Friday of each month, Aug. 18 – Nov. 17 from 2 – 4 p.m. in the Wood Reading Room in Boyd Library. In September, A Gentleman in Moscowa novel by Amor Towels will be discussed. The book club is free but registration is required.

“Maintain; Don’t Gain Through the Holidays” is a new class teaching students how to get on (and stay on) the right path to achieve lifelong weight management and live the fit and healthy lifestyle you’ve imagined. Topics focus on nutrition, fitness, and behavioral change. Instructor Kimberly Schorn is the owner of Defy Nutrition & Human Performance, LLC, a local private practice providing virtual coaching and counseling to those who desire to live a healthier life. She has a passion for helping active duty military, veterans, and their families. Learn more about this class and the instructor at defynutritionhp.com

“Maintain; Don’t Gain Through the Holidays” will be held every other Friday, Sept. 1-Oct. 13 from 9-10:30 a.m. The cost is $25.

“Introduction to the Modern Middle East” introduces students to the culture, politics, and security issues of the broader Middle East. Topics include the shift from Empire to the modern nation-states after the Great War; the Israel/Palestine issues; the rise of Islamism; major conflicts in the region; and the current chaos from the Syrian civil war and the Islamic State. Upon completion, students should be able to describe key security, political, and cultural issues in a region that stretches from Morocco to Instructed by Jason Criss Howk, Major (Retired) U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer.

“Introduction to the Modern Middle East” will be held Sept. 6-Nov. 8 on Wednesdays from 2-4 p.m. The cost is $45 plus text.

“Introduction to Islam in the Modern World” introduces basic concepts of the religion of Islam and the ideology of Islamism. Topics include Islamic history, The Quran, the breadth of Muslim cultures and civilizations, and the ideologies pronounced by Islamists. Upon completion, students should be able to delineate the differences between Islam, Islamist ideology, and violent radical Islamist (VRI) groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda; understand the Quranic-based tenets of the religion of Islam; identify the foundations of Islamism and the radical forms in use today; and formulate solutions for countering VRIs. Instructed by Jason Criss Howk, Major (Retired) U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer.

“Introduction to Islam in the Modern World” will be held Sept. 6-Nov. 8 on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The cost is $45 plus text.

“Afghanistan and Pakistan” is a new course introducing students to the history of Afghanistan and Pakistan and their relationship. Topics include political, social, and security issues; the role of the British, Soviets, and America in the nations; the effects of Islamism and terrorist groups; and the effect of the insecurity in these states on the nations and the region. Upon completion, students should be able to describe the complex interplay of history, geography and ethnoreligious politics of the two countries and develop possible solutions for various outstanding issues between the two states. Instructed by Jason Criss Howk, Major (Retired) U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer.

“Afghanistan and Pakistan” will be held Sept. 26-Oct. 24 on Tuesdays from 2-4 p.m. The cost is $45 plus text.

“Presidential Decisions: U.S. Policy Countering Terrorism” is a new class discussing countering terrorism from 1979 to present. This is a multi-session short discussion course reviewing decisions made by U.S. Presidents from Carter to Obama as they relate to major turning points in the US efforts in dealing with terrorist attacks and warfare fueled by violent radical Islamist ideology across the broader Middle East. This course spans multiple meetings allowing students opportunities to read materials about each session and arrive prepared to discuss key events and to formulate questions. Each session ends with a list of “options not taken” and an assessment of the President’s decisions. Instructed by Jason Criss Howk, Major (Retired) U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer.

“Presidential Decisions: U.S. Policy Countering Terrorism” will be held Sept. 26-Oct. 31 on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The cost is $45.

Registration

Seats are still available for these classes. To register in person, stop by the Sandhills Community College Continuing Education office located on the first floor of Van Dusen Hall. You may also register by phone with a credit card at (910) 695-3980. Registration hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Fridays 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.